Film processing unit



Jan. 4, 1949. 1 E, LUBOSH'EZ 2,458,394

FILM PROCESSING UNI'I.

Filed Nov. 15, 1945 BENJAMIN E.LUBO5HEZ INV TOR Mm M Patented Jan. 4, 1949 FILM PROCESSING UNIT Eenjamin E. Luboshez, Rochester, N. Y., assgnorto Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New JerseyApplication November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,915

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to photography, and more particularly tc aprocessing unit for processing sensitized photographic iilm. Accordingto the invention, the processing unit comprises a housing or bodyportion having one or mere U--shaped compartments arranged with illmguides for leading or guiding the film to be processed into the variouscompartments containing the treating liquids or solutions. A leaderstrip is threaded through the unit and is connectable to the film stripso that by drawing the leader strip, the iilm strip may be successivelypassed through the various treating liquids or solutions so as to beprccessed thereby.

The unit is iilled, at the factory, with the necessary processingliquids or solutions so that the operator is relieved of the necessityof preparing and handling such solution, the advantages of Which arereadily apparent to those in the art. The compartments containing theliquids are sealed against liquid communication sc as to prevent mixingor spilling of the liquids. In order that the unit may be readily andeasily shipped or handled, the sealing means is preferably in the formof a fusible material which is solid at normai temperatures, i. e., thetemperature at which the unit is s jected prior to processing. With suchan arrangement, the processing liquids are sealed in their respectivecompartments, and the unit may be handled much in the manner of a drybattery without any danger of spilling or mixing of the solutions. When,however, the ii m is being processed, the unit is placed in a suitableheating bath which serves to fuse or melt the sealing material toconvert the material to a liquid to permit the free passage of theleader strip into and out of the processing liquid. Eyen in its liquidstage, the sealing material still serves to seal the liquids againstmixing. In addition, the liquid seal afiords a wiping means or squeegeewhich removes the surface liquid from the fi m as the latter leaves eachcompartment. Also, the sealing means seals the iilm inlet and filmoutward io prevent air from reaching the processing liquids, theadvantages of which are readily apparent to those in the art.

In practice, the processing unit could be quite small separate from theheating bath so that it could be separately stored, handled and/orshipped. With such an arrangement, the treating solution can be readilyand easily renewed merely by removing the used unit or block andreplacing it with a new unit, much in the manner of replacing dry cells.The unit could be shipped as a block with the leader strip threadedtherethrough and with the opposite ends of leader strip protruding sothat they may be attached to the film and to a winding mechanismrespectively. For each new roll of film, a fresh unit or block will bedropped into position in the heating bath Where it would be surroundedby a suitable heating means and also associated with film supply andwind up mechanism. After the roll is processed, the processing unit isremoved and replaced by a new unit. The cost of the renewable units neednot be prohibitive as they are used only once and may, therefore, becheaply constructed. In size, the unit may be a little larger than alarge match box.

The present invention has, therefore, as its principal object theprovision of a replaceable unitary film processing unit. l

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a unit in whichthe various treating liquids are sealed in their respective compartmentsor chambers to prevent accidental mixing or spilling of the liquids.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in a unit of theclass described of a sealing means which is normally solid but whichbecomes liquid at the processing temperature to permit the free passingof the ilm through the processing liquids, yet preventing the mixing ofthe liquids.

And another object of the invention is the provision of such a unitwhich is small, compact, inexpensve, easy to use and replace, but highlyeflective in use.

To these and other ends. the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through the processing unit, showingthe arrangement of the parts when received by the user;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the unit illustrated inFig. 1, and taken substantially on line 2-2 of the latter; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the processing unit inposition in the heating bath, showing the relation of the treatingliquids during the processing operation.

similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate thesame parts.

The processing unit ol' the present invention comprises a hollow housingor body portion f ormed with a bottom II and upstanding side and endwalls I'2 and l3. A horizontal wall M having a length less than thedistance between the end walls l3 extends across and connects the sidewalls lt, as shown in Fig. 2. Three spaced walls l are secured to anddepend from the wall EII. and terminate short of the bottom H to dividethe interior or body portion into two separate com partments it and l'iadapted to receive the lni processing liquid, such as developer aa andixer is. The two outer walls i are spaced from the wall lt to provide afilm inlet Zil and a film cutlet El through which the film strip may befed to and drawn from the compartments l and l'i. Film guides in theform of rollers 22 are positioned to guide the film into and out of thecompartments so as to bring the film into contact with the treatingliquids l8 and le positioned therein to process the film. A leader 23 isthreaded through the unit and over guide rolls 22 and serves to guidethe iilm during the passage through the unit, is apparent from aninspection of Figs. 1 and 3. The ends 24 and 25 of the leader projectfrom the unit and are adapted to be connected to the film strip and thewinding mechanism respectively, the winding mechanism beingdiagrammatically shown as a winding reel 26. If desired, the processedfilm may be passed through a drying chamber, not shown, prior to beingwound up on a take-up reel 26.

Prior to use, it is essential that the treating solutions be protectedagainst spilling and/or mixing, and during the processing of the nlm,the solutions must be maintained separate, for obvious reasons. Tosecure this result, the present invention provides a sealing means 36positioned in the bottom of the unit. This sealing material is normallysolid and closes the lower ends of the compartments it and E'i, as wellas the film inlet and outl-et 20 and Zi, as shown in Fig. 1, thusenabling the unit to be freely han dled without any danger of spillingor mixing the liquids is and S. When, however, the iilm is to beprocessed, the unit is placed in a container 3! filled to the properheight with a heating medium 32 such, for example, as hot water. Theheating medium is at such a temperature as to melt 'or fuse the materialsc to convert the latter to a liquid so as to permit the free passage ofthe leader strip and the lni through the processing unit, yet providinga suitable sealing means to prevent mixing of the treating solul Thetemperature of tions, as shown in Fig. 3. the water depends upon thetype of material used. The latter should, however, be of a type Which,when liquid, will have a specific gravity greater than that of thesolutions Ia and 19 so as to remain at the bottom of the compartments oprevent mixing the solutions, as is apparent.

As the lm strip leaves the compartments Ha and l! it passes through abody of the melted or liquid material 30 which serves to Wipe orsqueegee the treating solution from the surfaces of the lm. As the filmleaves the compartment ll and passes out through the exit outlet 21 itis desirable to provide a longer path through the material toeffectively remove the excess liquid from the surfaces of the Iilm sothat the latter will be substantially dry as it leaves the processingunit. To secure this result, the sealing material is maintained n theoutlet channel 2! at an elevation higher than in the bottoms of thecompartments li and ll, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Of course, thesealing material is at the same height in the inlet channel 28. In orderto secure this height differential, the chambers 16 and H are placedunder slight pressure when the molten or liquid treating material ispoured into the unit. When the liquid sealing material hardens or sets,the various levels thereof are as shown in Fig. 1. The screw closurecaps 35 ere then removed, and the treating solutions is and IQ arepoured into the respective compartments B and through the illing holes35. The levels of the liquids in the compartments are slightly below thewalls Hl to leave small air spaces 36 to permit the expansion of thetreating liquids when the latter are heated by the heating medium 32.When the sealing material Mi melts, the hydrostatic heads of thetreating liquids are sufficient to retain the sealing material inelevated relation in the channels 253 and Zi, as shown in Fig. 3.

As mentioned above, the sealing material 38 must be of a compositionwhich sets or solidifies at normal temperature so as to provide a sealagainst the spilling or mixing of the solutions, yet which melts orliquees at operating temperatures tc permit the free passage of theleader strip and film through the unit while still sealing the solutioncompartments. In order to provide an effective seal, when liquid, thesealing material must, of necessity, have a speciiic gravity greaterthan the treating solutions so as to remain at the bottom of thecompartments i j and ll, as shown in Fig. 3. The particular sea.- ingmaterial utilized depends, in part, on the treating temperatures to beused. It has been found, however, that a low melting point alloy isadmirably adapted for this purpose. Such an alloy provides the desiredseal both when solid and liquid, and also effectively wipes the film asit leaves the compartments. As the processing temperatures range betweenand 200 F. any low melting point alloy which will fuse within this rangeis suitable. Examples of such alloys are as follows:

Emample I Woods metal which has a melting point of 163 F. and comprises50% Bi, 25% Pb, 12%% Cd,

Example II Lipowitz metal which has a melting point of F. and comprises50% Bi, 26 Pb, Is Sn, and 10% Cd.

Example III Woods metal (Cerrobend) which has a melting point of 160 F.and comprises 50% Bi, 25.7% Pb, 10% Cd, and 13% Sn.

The present invention thus provides a small, compact, easily replaceableprocessing unit in which the treating liquids are sealed in thecompartments so as to permit ready handling and/or shipping withoutdanger of spilling or mixing of the liquids. The sealing material alsoprotects the treating solutions against oxidation. When in use, thesealing material melts to permit the free passage of the film throughthe treating solutions, yet prevent mixing of solutions. After use, theunit may be discarded and replaced with a new unit.

While on-e embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive idea may be carried out "ln a number ofways. This application is not, therefore, to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to cover all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A portable self-contained film processing unit through which aphotographic iilm strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,in combination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of con nected compartments having diiferentphotographic treating liquids positioned therein, and a fusible materialpcs'itioned "ln the path of the film between said compartments forsealing said compartments against liquid communication.

2. A portable self-contained processing unit through which aphotographic film strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,in combination, hollow body portion having the interior thereof dividedinto a plurality of connected compartments having different photographictreating liquids positioned therein through which lm is progressivelymoved, and means positioned n the path of the ilm between saidcompartments for sealing said compartments against liquid communication,said sealing means being solid at normai temperatures but adapted to beconverted to a liquid state during processing to prevent mixing of theliquids in said compart ments.

3. A portable self-contained nlm processing unit through which aphotographic nlm strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising, incombination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereof dividedinto a plurality of connected compartments having different photographictreating liquids positioned therein through which film is progressivelymoved, a fusible material positioned ln the path of the nlm between saidcompartments for sealing said compartments against liquid communication,and liquid means for wiping the liquid from the iilm as it leaves thecompartments.

4. A portable self-contained iilm processing unit through which aphotographic film strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,in combination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of connected compartments having differentphotographic treating liquids positioned therein through which iilm isprogressively moved, a fusible material positioned in the path of theiilm between said compartments for sealing said compartments againstliquid communication, and iilm guides in said compartments, certain ofsaid guides being positioned in said sealing material.

5. A portable self-contained ilm processing unit through which aphotographic film strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,in combination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of connected compartments having diiTerentphotographic treating liquids positioned therein through which film isprogressively moved, a fusible material positioned in the path of the lmbetween said compartments for sealing said compartments against liquidcommunication, and a leader strip extending through said compartmentsand said sealing material.

6. A portable self-contained film processing unit through which aphotographlc iilm strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,ln combination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of connected compartments having differentphoto graphic treating liquids positioned therein through which lm isprogressively moved, a fusible material positioned ln the path of thefilm between said compartments for sealing said compartments'agalnstliquid communication, nlm guides posltioned in said compartments,certain of said guides being arranged in said sealing ma" terial, and aleaderstrip extending though said compartments and over said guides.

7. A portable self-contained film processing unit through which aphotographic ilm s ip may be drawn to process the latter comprising, ncombination, a hollow body portion. the interior thereof divided into aplurality of connected compartments having different photographictreating liquids positions-d therein through which iilm is progressivelymoved, and a fusible material of a higher specific gravity than saidliquids positioned in the path of the film between said compartments forsealing said com-- partments against liquid communication.

8.A portable self-contained film processing unit through which aphotographic ilm strip be drawn to process the latter comprising, incom-- bination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of compartments open at their lower endsthrough which lm is progressively moved, fusible m ans positioned insaid body in the path of the ilm strip between said compartments forsealing the lower ends of said compartments to seal the latter againstliquid communication, said means being solid at normai temperatures butfluid at process ing temperatures, and different photographic processingliquids positioned in said compartments above and supported by saidsealing means.

9. A portable self-contained lm processing unit through which aphotographic film strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,in combination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of compartments open at their lower ends,usible means positioned in said body in the path of the iilm stripbetween said compartments for sealing the lower ends of saidcompartments to seal the latter against liquid communication, said meansbeing solid at normal temperatures but iluid at processing temperatures,different photographic processing liquids positioned in saidcompartments above and supported by said sealing means, and a leaderstrip extending through said compartments and connectable to said filmto draw said iilm through said liquids and through said sealing means.

10.A portable self-contained film processing unit through which aphotographic iilm strip may be drawn to process the latter comprising,in combination, a hollow body portion having the interior thereofdivided into a plurality of compartments open at their lower ends,fusible means positioned in said body in the path of the iilm stripbetween said compartments for sealing the lower ends of saidcompartments to seal the latter against liquid communication, said meansbeing solid at normal temperatures but liquid at processingtemperatures, different photographic processing liquids positioned insaid compartments above and supported by said sealing means, and aleader strip threaded through said compartments and said fusible meansand connectable to said lm to draw said iilm through said liquids andthrough said. sealing means, said sealing means when liquid serving towipe the liquids from said film as the latter passes from saidcompartments.

11. A portable self-contained high temperature photographic filmprocessing unit adapted to be positioned in a heating bath andcomprising n combination a hollow body portion having the interiorthereof divided into a plurality of connected compartments adaptedtohold different photographic processing liquid through which a Elm tobe processed may be drawn, and means positioned in the path of the filmbetween said compartments for sealing said compartments against liquidcommunication, said sealing means being normally solid but transformableto the liquid state when said unit is positioned in said bath to sealsaid compartments, yet permit the free passage of the iilm therethrough.

12. A portable self-contained high temperature photographic filmprocessing unit adapted to be positionecl in a heating bath andcomprising in combination a hollow body portion having the 'iteriorthereof divided into a plurality of compartments adapted to holddiiferent photographic processing liquids through which a film to beprocessed may be drawn, means positioned in the path ol the iilm betweensaid compartments for sealing said compartments against liquidcommunication, said sealing means being normally solid but transformableto the liquid state when said unit is positipned in said bath to sealsaid compartments, yet to permit the free passage of the iilmtherethrough, and a leader strip to which said film is adapted to beattached extending through said compartments and passing through saidsealing means so that the latter, when liquid, will serve to Wipe theliquid from said film as it leaves each compartment.

13. A portable self-contained high temperature photographic filmprocessing unit adapted to be positioned in a heating bath andcomprising, in combination, a hollow body portion having the interiorthereof divided into a plurality of liquid compartments and an inlet andan outlet channel all adapted to be in liquid communication, iilm guidespositioned in said body for guiding a hm strip through said compartmentsand in communication With the liquid-5 therein to process said strip,and means having a specific gravity greater than said liquid for sealingsaid compartments and channels against liquid communication, saidsealing means being solid at normal temperatures but fusing to a liquidwhen said unit is positioned in said bath, saidliquid sealing meansserving as a wiper to remove the liquids rom said iilm as the latterleaves the compartments.

BENJAIVIIN E. LUBOSHEZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,111,'759 Douden Mar. 22, 19382,210,880 Capstaif Aug. 13, 1940 2,389,378 Marisie Nov. 29, 1945

